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How loud are you typically listening?

Typically 75 to 80dB.  Really loud is 90dB and I'm never over, and I mean never, 95dB.  I'm using a professional SPL meter, C weighted, slow response.  Just curious.
128x128onhwy61
jrwaudio
349 posts
 
Here is a good benchmark:

 

 

30dB

Extremely quiet control rooms
Silence in a library or in a clothing warehouse

40dB

Silence at home
Calm countryside at night

50dB

Background hum of daytime in the woods
Whispered conversation
Listening to music at night
A fridge at home

60dB

Normal conversation in a room
Background noise in an office on a working day
Soft and comfortable listening to music
Music playback in a car

70dB

Loud and comfortable listening to music at home
Radio, TV or a vacuum cleaner
Too loud music playback in a parked car with its engine running
Average levels of a live concert in a hall (rock or classical)

80dB

Dishwasher
Passing truck or train
Screaming kids at home
Very loud music playback at home
Classical concert in an open venue

90dB

Lawn mower
Unbearable music level in a car
Loud rock concert in a closed small venue (like a club)
Classical concert in a concert hall
Aircraft landing from 200 meters

100dB

A tractor, helicopter or racing car from 10 meters
Loud rock concert in a closed venue
Hand drill
Underground traffic (subway)


onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61 OP
5,237 posts
 
Thanks for all the great replies.  I am extremely jealous of those who have truly quiet rooms.  My C weighted background level is 54dB;  A weighted is 30dB.  I live within a mile of an interstate highway entrance/exit with three truck stops.  I don't hear it, but I believe I have a build up of low frequency sounds that skew the C weighted measurement.

Happy listening!
wweiss
28 posts
 
When I went to see a trumpet concert in a small setting I brought my dB meter.  All the other people were holding up cell phones, I was holding up my dB meter!
  Average levels were 85-95dB. A trumpet is one of the louder instruments.
 At home I try to reproduce acoustic music and soft jazz at realistic live levels which I play at 80-85dB.  I believe 75dB is the recommended number.  For my birthday or New Years I sometimes just have to crank up some Led Zeppelin to 95-100dB for just a few songs.  After awhile it doesn't sound that loud and you want to turn it up louder!  Be careful!!
I am a semi professional drummer so obviously I know how live drums sound. Bass drum/Timpani 106dB, crash cymbal 113dB, toms 110dB, snare 120dB, snare with rimshot 125dB.  Average dB 112-119db at the drummers seat.  Other live instruments:  
Normal piano 60-70dB, Fortissimo piano 84-103dB, flute 92dB, violin 82-92dB.  
wweiss
28 posts
 
Forgot, live acoustic guitar 60-80dB.
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
130db. I like reproduction of jet fly overs. lol
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